Riff POV:

Most people say I'm a hopeless man, that I live for nothing but a scarred face and a nicotine kick... those people are probably right. But I'm not always hopeless. Sure, I lost hope a long time ago, but there's a person that could make me the opposite of hopeless.... Hopefull. And that person is my one and only girlfriend Y/N. We've been friends since kindergarten and only in the recent years started dating, although there wasn't such a huge difference. Y/N actually made me want to live for something, she could make me stop and shove some flowers in my face so that I could smell them. And I love that about her. The only person that could be understanding but also the only person who could grab me by the ear and pull me out of something. And I do whatever I can to keep her safe and loved.

Although it was hard. They're completely ramming our turf to the ground, leaving only dust behind. And with the Puerto Ricans turf, it meant that we are forced to share space. And obviously that goes as expected. Lieutenant Schrank was interrogating us about our gang activities. And of course, we never rat each other out, where's the fun in that. But one of them stuck a nail in baby Johns' ear, making him bleed like crazy. As the police leaves shortly behind the Puerto Ricans, we gather around. I sigh and change the pick in my mouth to hang out the other side. Then I hear running steps and look to the gate opening, and there she was, my shining sun.

-Hey guys, I came as soon as I heard there had been a brawl, kinda neat to have a police dad, she grins and opens a small bag of sorts.

-Anyone bleeding? She then asks.

-Only this champ right here, I say proudly and put a proud arm around baby John. Everyone cheers for him.

-that's gonna leave one hell of a mark! Ice says.

-You think!? Baby John says happily. I grin as Y/N rolls her eyes and pour some alcohol on two cotton pads. She closes the box and walks up to him.

-Take this and pinch them to your ear, tightly, she emphasizes.

-It'll make the bleeding stop, she then informs. He does as he's told and lets out a hiss.

-But that hurts! He protests.

-That's how you know you're alive! she teases and I leave baby Johns side to grab my girlfriend by the waist.

-Hello? She says.

-Hello, I say back and give her a passionate kiss. The guys around us whistle and I then let go just to look at her. She opens her eyes and my heart melts at her smile. Who said I couldn't be hopeless and in love?

-Oh tell me you're coming to the dance tonight, Y/N asks.

-Of course baby, I just gotta convince Tony first, I reassure.

-I haven't met Tony in forever! How is he? she asks.

-Meh, he's still stuck down in that basement, I growl.

-At least he has a paying job, she points out and I smirk at the comment. My eyebrows rise in surprise.

-Are you trying to tell me something? I ask.

-Maybe, she says secretly and pull away from me.

-I'll meet you at the dance, she then says and quickly kisses my cheek before she walks past me.

-Are you gonna tell me what you want to tell me? I shout out after her as she leaves. She turns around.

-I'll see you at the dance Riff, she just teases and walks away. The gang "ooohhh's" at her last comment and I chuckle.

-What a woman, I say and take out the toothpick before throwing it on the ground.

Y/N POV:

I wait in the mostly empty gym hall at the local school for Riff and his jets. When I hear the doors being opened and look to see the newcomers, I see Riff in the lead. I light up as he searches the room for me. When he finally sees me, he opens his arms and I stand up and run to him. I hop onto him and let him catch me.

-Well aren't you quite the doll tonight, huh? He asks.

-I thought you might like it, I say and he puts me down, but not before giving me a peck on the cheek.

-Shall we dance? He asks as he senses that his mates were anxious to head onto the dance floor.

-I thought you'd never ask, I say and grab his hand and pull him to the middle.

Although it didn't take long for the guys to fight again. But as soon as I saw police getting close I briskly shove my way through the boys, elbowing them or grappling them in the ear or back of the head to make them move. I then see Riff and quickly pull him off of a Puerto Rican before a police had the chance to shove him away. He turns to look at me, anger in his face, but then he saw me and straightened up. I smile at him and pat his chest before the game leader came to stand in the middle.

-Ugh, I do not want to "socialize" with those people, Riff whispers to me.

-Knowing you, you won't, I point out and huff humorously and he chuckles. I look at his face as he grins. He then looks down at my admiring face.

-What? He asks.

-You are so handsome, I just state.

-Thank you darlin' , he says surprised.

-So boys stand around in a big circle facing inwards, and girls stand in a smaller circle inside and face outwards! The game leader announces. Everybody stands still. No one moves. I hold back a laugh and it comes out as a small giggle. Riff laughs quietly too but keeps a watching eye on to the opposite side of the room. And from the corner of my eye I see Bernardo, Riffs arch nemesis, walk onto the floor with his girlfriend and stand eye to eye. He eyes Riff competitively. Riff then looks at me and raises a questioning eyebrow. I smile and he puts an arm on my back and escorts me to the floor and I stand next to the beautiful Puerto Rican girl. She grins and rolls her eyes playfully. I mimic her and we share a secret grin. Then we start walking in opposite directions, girls to the left and boys to the right. I pass Riff about three times before the music stops and I am looking into the eyes of a Puerto Rican man with a very well groomed mustache. I then look ahead and there stands Riff, just one man in front of me. He reaches out his hand and I quickly grab it, as he flies away with me.

A dance battle ensued between us white Americans and the Puerto Ricans. It was fun, it was new and it was very exciting. But the uptempo music quickly changes to a slow and light melody. Riff hastily holds his hands on my waist and holds me tightly against him. I lean against him with a smile.

-Having fun? He asks.

-I always have fun when I'm with you, I say and he lets out a small chuckle.

-Aren't you the sweetest woman to ever live in west side? Riff asks and I blush.

-You charmer, I lightly hit his chest. It then turns quiet between us.

-Me and the boys have planned a rumble, he then says.

-Tonight? I ask surprised and look at his face.

-No, we're discussing it with the sharks tonight. The rumble is tomorrow night, he says and I sigh.

-Why must you fight with them, huh? I ask disappointed.

-You know it's about turf sweetheart, we need to assert our dominance, he says.

-No you don't. They already know they're in a worse position than us. Besides think about their families, I say and he looks away upset.

-You know I don't have no family, he says. I hold his chin and he looks down at me.

-You have me, don't you? I ask with a small smile. He smiles back.

-Didn't you wanna talk about something? He then asks. I open my mouth but then hear a small ruckus from the bleachers which Riff sees to ignore.

-We'll talk later but right now it looks like you're needed elsewhere, I say and nod at Tony who's stirring up trouble with Bernardí and his gang. Riff clinches his jaw but kisses me on the cheek before he leaves.

Riff left to plan the rumble with the Sharks soon after the small argument. Apparently Tony had hit on Bernardo's sister, which I'll admit was very stupid. I decided that as I waited I would sit down and I have been sitting here for a while. But then I saw Riff and his guys come out of the bathroom and into the hall again. Riff looks very deep into his own thoughts. He almost glares at the floor as he walks in, but he quickly lifts his head and sees me. I smile giddily and hop up from my spot at the bench to greet him, making him smile back.

He comes to me and sits down again. He slyly puts a hand around my shoulders and the Jets, his pals, come to sit around us and decides to talk with their dates as well.

-So, about that talk? He asks.

-Well... what do you mean, I say teasingly.

-Well you where teasing me with not having a job... I assume there's something you want from that, he says.

-Kinda... you know I've just been daydreaming a lot, this might not even happen, I laugh off.

-Nah c'mon, tell me, he urges.

-I just thought, you know, we've been together for so long... I want to get married to you, I blurt.

-Well, pretty lady, what should we do about that? He asks and I giggle and shrug.

-You're the man, figure something out, I say. He leans closer to me, holding me protectively at his side as he whispers.

-First I'll get some money, maybe get a job... then I'll buy whatever ring your beautiful heart desires and we'll get married, he says.

-Together with the money I make working in the retirement home, maybe it'll go faster, I say. He smiles at me and pecks my cheek.

-You've really thought about this, he says impressed.

-Well duh, I've imagined it since we were 11, I say and he laughs and we lean in to share a sweet kiss.